Going back to my teenage years I have to say that my all time favourite rock band ever were Vardis.
Metallica were cool, but the Vardis dudes rocked the world.
Since their break up in 1986 there has been nothing like them, I have always hoped Vardis would get back together even for just for last tour.
Lead singer of Vardis Steve Zodiac was my idol, for 7 whole years I lived ate and breathed Stevie.
I had my hair bleached blond, permed and grew it to shoulder length just like Stevie's! I had all their albums 'If I were King' 'The Worlds Insane' and 'Quo Vardis' 'The Lions Share' 'Vigilante' and 'The Worlds gone mad'.
In the summer of 1980 me and mates Vomit Head and Colin 'The Crusher' Hovis started our own band 'Bollocks to Charity'.
We started of in Colin's garage then played a few local bars and heavy metal digs.
Vardis were our main influence.
'Bollocks to Charity' disbanded in Spring 1983 when Vomit Head went to train be an accountant and Colin became a new romantic and started his own band 'Lover Boys'.
I carried on solo for 5 years then worked as a roadie for a well known rock band until 1998.
I now own my own bar, married with 3 kids and have a wonderful wife.
My fond memories of Vardis, my band and my years in the music industry will stay with me forever.
My top tips for starting a rock band - 1.
Talent, obviously.
You'll go much further if you can play musical instruments and can actually sing well.
2.
Good looks.
If is important that at least one member of the group is good looking, I was the good looking in 'Bollocks to Charity'.
3.
Focus, attitude, drive, determination and a will to succeed.
There are two types of people in life; winners & losers.
Any looser can get their 15 minutes of fame; it's the winners that go down in history.
It's a long and rocky road to success, it's those with the guts that make it.